This has been discussed over and over I'm sure. At first I thought Hayami was a spirit like Otoha (and she may be, the ending is open to interpretation) but from what Otoha said I like to believe that Hayami is in fact alive again.

Despite what others have posted I believe she did die. I mean if she cared for Hirose so much how could she have stayed away for so many years. One might argue that it was to keep Hirose from regressing but it was clear he was cured from the moment he remembered the truth about what happened to his mother. She did die... :(

As fantastic as it was the ending was great. I keep wondering if Hayami was real or a spirit. The one thing that would have cleared up the debate is if others could see Hayami but I guess I'll just have to wonder. If she was real then did that mean that Otoha was real this time?

Anyhow, enough aching about that I could go on and on... I do hope this is re-released, perhaps with a dub this time. Either way its a must buy if it is re-released.

Its very good I totally understood
Her mom didn't suicide she saved a life
Like what hayami-chan did
That's the most effective cure for hirose's sickness
Then hayami-chan died but resurrected
And they lied happily ever after the fuckk~~
Its something like a realistic fairy tale

I really enojyed this series, which surprised me, given the background art of the various characters posing in bathing suits-- which makes it look like yet another fanservice-laden harem show, and a forgettable guilty pleasure at best. Instead, the story gripped me right at episode one. Hirose Takuma is a male lead character with real integrity, and both he and Kohinata Hayami well exemplified in my mind the saying "do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" within the limits of a frail fallen human nature. I found myself really caring for those two, and wanting good things for them in the end, after all they've been through. The ending really ripped a jagged tear in my heart

Spoiler Alert! Click to show or hide

when Hayami dies just as Takuma regains his sight and sanity. Because I so wanted them to be happy together forever, I think I can accept the deus ex machina (well put-- quoting an earlier person's comment) of Otoha magically bringing Hayami back, but I think it would have been dramatically fine or even best to have ended the story right after Takuma finishes the windmill. While we all would like a happy ending, being an adult in real life is taking the bad along with the good, and not being defeated by the former nor spoiled by the latter.

Well I agree with you about "in real life is taking the bad along the good, and not being defeated by the former nor spoiled by the latter". And while I kind of wish they had gone with that approach in the "Clannad: After Story" anime.....I don't think that would have worked for me in this one.

I for one would have been severely disappointed if they hadn't brought back Hayami and ended it at the completion of the windmill because I felt she had suffered unfairly so much to this point and didn't deserve this kind of end. There's a fine line between having a truly sad ending and going too far and ending up with a horrible story overall. All during the train scene near the end from the moment you see a close up of their hands and she started pulling away to save that kid, my jaw dropped and my eyes were bulging and I was like "OHNOOHNOOHNOONOOOO", all the way until that part with Otoha saying she convinced the spirit council. If that hadn't happend, I shudder to think what my mental state would be right now.

As implausible as the happy ending was, I was willing to take it. Even though it did seem kind of like cheating, I figure if they got away with it in "Clannad", then it would work here.since in both series "magical realism", a narrative style where magical/fantasy elements have a part in what would otherwise be regarded as a "realistic setting", is used. So to have that Deus ex machina moment at the end is acceptable. Well for me at least, 'cuz I sooooo wanted to have Hayami get a good ending. Especially after seeing her get all those beat downs at the hands of everyone else, even Takuma at that one point out in the rain. And especially since she really didn't deserve that, even though she may have felt she did at the time because everyone believed her family drove Takuma's mother to suicide, when it was revealed later that was not actually the case.

Yeah, Hayami definitely deserved the happiest of happy endings because of all this and I am so glad it turned out well for them.

Point taken. :-) I just chalk it up to dramatic license, and come away still having enjoyed a fine series. It was time well spent. And yes, if anyone in H2O can be said to deserve some happiness in life, I'd say Hayami would be one. Maybe "Clannad" will be worth watching too-- I've heard the name many times, but have never seen it. Alas, while there's plenty of crap in anime, there are also gems out there too, and just not enough time amidst the other pressures in life to see all the good ones!

And yeah, I'd probably buy the DVD (and I wouldn't mind at all if it was subs-only-- but that's just me...) if an official U.S. release ever comes into being.

KaiserSoei, sorry, I know how you feel. I wish they had chosen a different road, but the way the ending is designed, her coming back is just a cathartic element. It's clear that she died, and she needed to in order to create the symmetry (death of mother, death of first love). She had to die in order for the statement, "Accept all of it" to make any sense. He has to accept ALL of it, including this final loss. Her living would invalidate her smile at the last moment, she's smiling because she knows she's fulfilled her mission in life--awakening the love of her life.

Let's assume she came back as a spirit at the end, even then, can he have babies with a spirit? If they do a sequel with that in mind, it would have to be a pure fantasy show, not the magical realist show they created here.

As for Clannad, I found it to be more heart wrenching in the end, because you get to know the characters for span of over 40 episodes instead of just 12. At least an entire third of a season is after the first big gut shocker/tragedy in Clannad:After Story (you know which episode I mean).

Also, is it too much to ask for an anime where the couple just lives out a tumultuous but ultimately normal relationship for many years instead of a few snatched moments of happiness before some long gutwrenching problem/tragedy or whatnot? Guess it wouldn't be tearjerker anime otherwise, I guess *sigh*'

the ending good! sometime the anime was a bit confuse -.- but its a good anime!

Indeed, It was all clear how everybody was.
Some anime doesn't end that way so im kinda happy the producers made the ending very clear.

I liked how it ended. If you ask me i think this is the best ending among the anime I've watch yet because in the end they showed how or who did everyone ended with but i might be wrong there might be an anime that i have already watched that ended the same way but anyways all i can say is that "Its a master piece" and "Its so nice to in love"

I'm glad they didn't completely leave it "open ended" like many anime shows has started to do in the past few years. Finding closure is a plus to me, vs having to wonder and being left with that empty feeling to the story.

Honestly, i think that what would have left me most satisfied is that he fall to his knees and cry as he did in the flashbacks with his mom, but as hes falling to peices a voice calls out to him. He looks up to see Hayami. Shes next to the tracks as the train has missed her, she has saved the boy and herself. Hayami has been treated so poorly through this show and i truly felt sorry for her. I wanted more than anything in the world for her and Hirose to end up together. I'm truly a sucker for happy endings!! I cryed so hard when she died!!! Hayami deserved better, She deserves love, Hirose's love. From the beginning i know who i want the guy to end up with, thats how i am when i watch anime, but it seems that the one i pick is never the one that gets the guy. When Hirose gave Hayami the bell it made me wanna cry tears of joy! I loved this show, i didnt want it to end!!!

i don't know easy to understand but. i dont really sea if she died or lived. and the old man was just looking for power that's why he told the blind poor kid that hayami-chans family killed his mother because it will affect hirose psychologically. a little satisfied but still thinking i want to see hirose having a family and being cured. And is he blinded psychologically or physically?